The biggest perk of the James is how close it is to Springfield. Otherwise, float was incident free and a great day to be on the river. Lastly, I mentioned that the flukes we were using were poured by Jackin Jaws Baits. Most of this water provides fine fishing. When stocked in this order and properly managed, these species provide great fishing and good eating. Very professional, thorough and organized from the time I called for reservations. Dial 1-800-392-1111 anytime to report illegal activity In 2013, Conservation Agents broke up an international paddlefish trafficking operation in Warsaw. If you havent yet tried going-small while fishing for smallmouth . Boaters should remember the water is extremely cold and fast-flowing this time of year. Although the water was relatively low, most places were fine in a kayak if you were careful and paid attention. The reservations were made on line and the check in process was very efficient. However one of the fine fishing floats always has been the 22-mile section from Hooten Town to Galena and this may srill be floated even with john boats. 39.4 Silvet Lake Branch on right. Must have came downstream out of the current to winter in the deeper water. fishing conditions are less optimal. James River Outfitters provided good equipment. As we neared the end, several large pools slowed us down (especially with the wind). On my way back towards the bridge, smoke from USFS prescribed burns in the Mark Twain National Forest filled the river valley as the sun set. 125 to Lake Springfield 6.3; dam at Lake Springfield to Hwy.14-4.3; to Galena 4. With my normal Monday activities sidelined, it was a perfect weather day to get on the water. Somewhere in the last half hour of the day I hooked into a beautiful smallie, probably around 17-18. We cooked burgers, ate pasta salad, chips, and cookies, and swam and skipped rocks for much of the afternoon. The James River is located in an historic part of Missouri, near the Wilson Creek Battlefield site that was part of the "War of Northern Aggression" (aka the Civil War), so there is much to see around this stream, as well as the enjoyment derived from paddling its quiet waters. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish. A 2-3" rain in S Spgfld loaded up Wilson's Creek enough to send a wave of water down the James. Rivers daily change flow levels and current speeds. The lake level was at 916.41 but we were in a still pool for the last mile of the trip. Even after a missed turn or two we still arrived at the river just in time. A few people were on the river but it wasn't too bad. In high or medium water paddlers can run anorher 40 miles above this as well as some of the larger tributaries. AA near O to church.52.8Crane Creek on right.53.8Wheeler Branch and Hwy. The weather was beautiful. Some anglers still prefer the stability they provide for casting while standing and the comfort of folding arm chairs which they can carry. While we had little luck actually catching any fish, the water was crystal clear and the fish sightings were abundant. Try it now. Just check him at and book a reservation here: https://www.venku.com/listing/b6a6979b-ca46-4f9b-a2e2-65b0c21c0e8a?preview=false. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The water was high enough Laura was able to use her inflatable kayak. I caught my personal best smallmouth at just over 15" and Josh caught a 3lb spotted bass near Galena. We brought our own kayaks to float the river and was charged $25 l to transport them up the river, then we floated down. Julian paddled his own boat and spent his time back and forth between our different boats. Portage.12.5Dam at Rivetdale. 60 Bridge. 07.01.2017 - Fishing on the James River from Cox/Indian Creek access to JRO (James River Outfitters) ~ 11 miles. Click here for the latest 7 day fishing weather forecast for James River. Water level was just below "Good", but still easily navigable. It was a great trip and if we come back to Branson we will likely do it again. Remarkably (to me) the DoJ was actually flowing fairly well, despite this day being right in the middle of the summer season and additionally having had nearly no rain in the previous month. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider going Monday through Thursday. 65 Bridge. From the Alleghany Highlands to the Chesapeake Bay, the James River basin is home to a variety of outdoor recreation activities. It is not the cleanest section of the James. Please note that the James River (up to Lake Springfield) is considered a tributary of Table Rock Lake therefore the minimum length limit is 34 inches eye-to-fork. Thanks man! The feisty rainbows were hitting on hair jigs at first, then as the day wore on only size 16 or 18 scuds. There were a lot of boats on the water, primarily from rentals along the river. Its close proximity to Springfield and less-than-stellar reputation means this small-but-mighty river often gets overlooked as a floating option. Despite how much water we had and how fast it was flowing, I had forgotten how many loooong slow pools there were on this stretch of the James. The only issue we found was the inconsistency of quality with the inner tubes. Its funny that no matter how old I get, I still get so excited about an outdoor adventure the next day that I have trouble sleeping. Smallmouth fishing should continue to be excellent in 2023 with roughly 25% of the smallmouth sampled greater than 15 inches. Following Crappie in popularity are catfish, Walleye and white bass. Lake Springfield. There is always a man sitting at the front desk smoking with no consideration for those around him. We had a great time tubing on the James River we rented our tubes from James Rivers Outfitters. The mighty James was up and flowing really well today. 2023 Fishidy. It replaced a fish from Bull Shoals. Floated from Joe Crighton to south of Farm Road 164 and back. Several others were on the river due to the hot weather. A beautiful March afternoon to float in SW Missouri! Our group of 4 picked James River Outfitters and we were SUPER pleased with everything. However one of the fine fishing floats always has been the 22-mile section from Hooten Town to Galena and this may srill be floated even with john boats. Only caught one bass around a bridge pillar on a Ned rig, but it was a decent 15" smallmouth. We got a few sprinkles and some wind but it didn't otherwise affect us. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Hiking Rockwoods Reservation in St. Louis County, 5 Best spring wildflower hikes near St. Louis, Fishing the James River in Missouri for smallmouth bass. No access.15.7Aspen Road Bridge. Bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass are proven stocking combination that provides both food and sport-fishing. All the staff was top notch. #4.25.5. Hwys. We are. Ryan was incredibly helpful, present but not overbearing. For those searching for a bit of seclusion, most recreational floaters will be found between H.L. Due to the moon conditions night brightness levels are at 6%. Wind from the East, fish bite the least. No access. We take a number of different data points to make our fishing recommendation. Not correct. Find out if theres a raging torrent for torent or a calm mirror like surface using our daily updated stats for over 500,000 fishing locations. The main portion of the James River extends from the dam at Lake Springfield south to Galena. Lake Springfield backs up water beyond this point. We took our time, enjoyed the water, and made the float last about 4.5 hours. On this stretch,smallmouth bass and goggle-eye reign supreme. 60 Bridge. We loved the experience! No access. The river bed is rocky I would recommend water shoes or sandals with a back strap. This is definitely not a choice destination due to the large numbers of people on any given day but other options are limited due to the low water levels. D.3.0San Francisco St. Louis R.R. Largemouth bass, green sunfish, bluegill, and longear sunfish rounded out the mixed bag for the day, all caught on flukes. EVERYONE who worked there was friendly and professional. I [], Oh, what a night . 248-13 Bridge. Fishing was rough though. 13 Bridge. Not thinking through the full potential for a HUGE schmuck-a-rama to happen on the DoJ this Saturday, we arrived at Shelvin Rock to find the river access PACKED with fellow paddlers, cars, and trailers. If those times won't work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising , as does 12:00AM to 12:00AM Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and weather changes. The trick was to fish it slowly, and twitch the bait just enough to get some erratic action. We both labored through some restless sleep, so waking up at 4:30 was no big deal. This map makes it easy to plan and get the most out of your next fishing trip! 42.6 Watch for down trees in river along right bank. 14 Bridge Access. Mid-April is the peak of the white bass spawn throughout Missouri, but it's an especially good time to fish the White River lakes. A short trip that began on the last 1/4 mile of the Finley resulted in some great fishing. (417) 889-6633 1111 E Republic Rd Suite #140, Springfield, MO 65807 Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 12-4pm We caught five smallies over 16" between the three of us, with numerous rock bass and small spotted bass in between. This is an electronic reprint of a Missouri Department of Conservation document. and susceptible to feeding meaning an opportunity for you to nab a catch. The high temp for the day was 92 degrees, so we took plenty of time to cool off in the river when the fishing slowed down around noon. We fished all day almost exclusively with flukes, but we did throw a shaky head craw with some success. When water conditions are right,paddlefish will run up the James River from Table Rock Lake during the spring months and have been found all the way to the dam at Lake Springfield. 3.0 San Francisco St. Louis R.R. The James Riversports an excellent population of suckers for the aspiring gigger willing to brave the dark. John boats 18-24 feet long and 4 feet wide were used long before canoes and kayaks became popular and are amazingly maneuverable craft for their size. Is it safe to kayak from the Gelena bridge to the Cape Fair bridge? Goggle-eye fishing should also be good for 2023. In several places, we had to help others or exit the boat to portage around or through particularly troublesome obstacles. Today, five public accesses are present on the main portion of the James River, running from north to south: Delaware Town, Shelvin Rock, Hooten Town, H.L. We're building software in our members area to tell you. The fishing regulatory body for Missouri is Missouri Department of Conservation . However, I lost the battle when it took me under a boulder and broke off. Rootwads and boulders are also good spots to catch goggle-eye; most anglers use tube jigs, curly-tailed grubs, or worms. 125 Bridge below dam of Lindenlure Lake.2.8County road btidge. This was a lazy summer trip with low (but acceptable) water levels. Contact Jeff about guiding you on a Float Tube Trip to NW Wisconsin. There are some fun shoals between Panther Creek and Davis Creek that would be great with a little more water. Losing the fish of the day stung a bit, but could not detract from our day fishing the James River. Ryan guided me to a root wad to lean my kayak against so that I could cast into a specific break in the current. Another couple taking out at Kerr said their canoe dragged along in several places. Although I got out only a few times because of shallow water, we rubbed the bottom quite a bit and got hung up on rocks a few times. Wind from the Fly Fishing The James River in Missouri - YouTube If you find yourself in the Branson, Missouri area.needing a little fly fishing time, then look no further than the James River. Nov 05, 2014 - James River Details: 16 in. The cooler tube was great for our cooler and all our bags. 'You will miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.' - Wayne Gretzky All day long, at any moment, fish were visible in the clear water. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I owe a bit of thanks to Murielle and Venku for leading on an adventure that wasnt even on our radar a few months ago. But the rest of us had a good time and Julian used a rope swing for the first time on this trip. Fair access. Ryan discussed techniques, and showed us the most effective way to throw the baits we would be using for the day. It was Parker's first time on a float trip and in a kayak. Learn how your comment data is processed. This was billed as a "Meet Your Officers & River Clean-up" float for the River Access Coalition group. Holiday weekend float. There are lots of spots along the banks to pull aside and relax. 65. take Evans Road to Southwood Road. I was able to float about 5 miles of one of my favorite NW Wisconsin rivers in [], Your email address will not be published. 23.2 Counry road bridge. Anglers regularly report catching smallmouth greater than 18 inches, particularly in the Smallmouth Special Management Area (SMA). If you havent yet made it to Branson, it is quite the cityand quite the story. 10 miles from James River. According to legend, the James was the birthplace of the Ozark float trip. We were allowed to peak into a tent. Only caveat was the hour long wait to get on the bus in the morning. It is part of the White River watershed. I wouldn't want to do this much lower. from a southerly direction which means fishing is average. We ate lunch at the corner beneath the bluff. Nobody fished very much, including Julian. Inquire locally about conditions and accesses. 65 Bridge. Someone reported much higher haystacks above the Finley. Kerr and Cox Memorial during the floating season. The river was remarkably quiet. If you live in Fremont Hills, Nixa, Ozark, Battlefield or Springfield you're less than Suckers of all types, all 3 black bass species, channel catfish, carp, crappie, sculpin, shad and minnows of all types were present. View our maps and read detailed fishing reports from nearby anglers. Fishing James River, MO on 4/14/2023 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM, and from 12:00AM to 12:00AM. 15.8 Hwy. Make your fishing dreams come true today and tomorrow. No access. Copyright 2003 by the Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri. AA on right. Rated as the second best lake in the state for bass tournament success and number one in average bass weight and winning weight. Early evening solo float. The section was easy to navigate in our kayaks. There are at least two exciting plunges over ledge rock in this stretch. Worst Place I've Ever Been to for Canoeing. This means if you're planning of fishing at night then Longear sunfish are always a great option for anglers of all ages due to their aggressivenature when presented with small hooks baited with pieces of worm or small artificial lures. One real exciting rapid with a drop 6-9" just above Finley on the right fork. Inquire locally about conditions and accesses. We spent most of the day on a gravel bar about 3/4 of the way through, cooking burgers for lunch and swimming and snorkeling. It was a pretty cool day hats for sure. Cardinal flower bloomed on the banks. 12.3 Kissick Darn. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. We put in around 1330 and were off by 1645. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Largemouth bass and spotted bass are also present in the James, albeit in lower densities. Regardless, it was a wonderful day to be outside on the river (even the DoJ) and everyone had a great time. Fishing was non-existent. It never even crossed my mind that I would be fishing the James River near Nixa this fall. I own 4 float tubes and 4 sets of kick fins so I am offering an opportunity for you to come to Northwestern Wisconsin and fly fish from a float tube [], In this video I take a small/short trip down the St Croix River here in NW Wisconsin in search of my favorite game fish . I was the only one on the water and other than the constant noise of US 65, it was a quiet trip. This group of poachers stole a lot of fish from legal snaggers. A few of the riffles were too low and some places ended up being traps for the boats because of the low water. Anyone interested in fishing James River or waters within the wider area around Branson should consult with local resources before heading out to fish. I would totally stay in one. Not a soul in sight, just the way we like it. 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